The Spectator

When 100 journalists got a "last chance" cc'd email invitation for the little-known band Device at The Fly – "the venue is getting frighteningly near capacity" warned PR company Vashon Ferry – the circular emails began. Rob Fitzpatrick of 'Word' magazine: "If these guest places really are as limited as this email suggests, then I, for one, really don't mind not coming." Danny Eccleston of 'Mojo': "I can't bear to think of Rob missing out. He can have my place!" Ed Caesar of 'The Independent': "I've consulted Kofi Annan, who suggests that the only sensible solution to this crisis would be some sort of 'Crystal Maze' finale, with 10 tickets billowing among thousands of blank sheets." Look forward to the reviews.

Good week for

Xu Jinglei, whose blog reached the magic 100-millionth hit mark last week, making it the biggest on the web. Never read it? That's because it's in Chinese. Xu gets visitors at 100 every second with tales of her virtuous life.

Bad week for

Ceri Thomas, who has provided some mirth in the scandal-ridden BBC. A circular of Thomas, dressed in a merman's outfit, has been doing the rounds of the BBC staff email in-boxes. Thomas, the editor of the 'Today' programme, won't comment on how he came to don a wispy blond wig, shell necklace and fish tail, but he has told colleagues testily that it's actually a "King Neptune costume".

Immune to criticism?

The Observer's 8 July front page, featuring the claim of a one-in-58 risk of autism from the MMR jab, has prompted its sister paper, 'The Guardian', to run a meticulous debunking of the story in its Bad Science column. Its author, Goldacre, suggests the media that peddle such untruths should be "in the dock, alongside [Dr Andrew] Wakefield". Despite the kicking, morale remains high at 'The Observer'. Many of its own journalists thought the story deserved a good trashing.

Isaby's by-election blues

Bumptious Jonathan Isaby got himself into a tight corner in the Ealing Southall by-election debacle. Isaby, deputy diary editor of 'The Daily Telegraph', blogged that "a source inside the Tory campaign" told him the postal ballots indicated a close-run contest, and listed the results. The post was quickly removed, as it is prohibited to release results early. One hopes the 'Telegraph' doesn't chastise him too much. He will already be feeling sore about the Tories coming a poor third.

Kelly's still not running

Adjusting to life post No 10 is proving difficult for some. Tom Kelly, who was Tony Blair's official spokesman, infuriated political hacks with his standard response to any reasonable question: "I'm not going to give a running commentary." At a drinks do in the House of Commons Press Gallery last week, Kelly recounted how he was taking his son for a ride in the car, when the lad asked, "Are we nearly there?" Guess what Kelly said. Poor kid.

A hard slot to fill

Over at the 'Sunday Express', GMTV presenter Kate Garraway – "the woman who knows what's really going on – last week and every week!" – is quitting her column. Her slot will be filled by the statuesque Julia Hartley-Brewer, who is stepping down as political editor. This leaves a bit of a hole in political coverage at Richard Desmond's Sunday paper, not least because, for the time being, they have no intention of appointing a new one. Then again, JH-B is a hard act to follow.